see Post 12.2.2009

It was perhaps not surprising that further information on the above was proving difficult to find. The marriage in 1867 was between Edward John George and Charlotte Drusilla Willmott and not vice versa as I had believed.

The couple appear in the 1871 census in Brighton, described “comedian” and “comedienne” respectively with their two young children.

Immediately afterwards Charlotte, stage name “Lottie Moreton” embarked upon a gruelling theatrical tour, for most of the time as a soubrette in “Mademoiselle Beatrice’s Frou Frou Troupe” which played in weekly engagements throughout the country for the next two years. It made me feel sick with exhaustion even to research. The details may be found in “The Era” now on line through the library link. There was absolutely nothing glamourous about being on The Stage. Aside from the sheer grind of travelling about by train laden with props and boxes, a different place every week, appearing sometimes “twice nightly” in draughty halls, there was the legendary horror of theatrical “digs”. Then there was the problem of keeping yourself and the costumes clean without modern washing and drying facilities. Dancers sweat and those costumes that did not rot, could probably stand up by themselves.  (This fact was graphically brought home to me in a recent Radio 4 programme on Diaghilev’s ballet. )

At last, Lottie parted from Mlle Beatrice’s troupe and jobless and ill, probably consumptive, she began advertising for work in the theatrical papers. She died on June 23rd, 1873. Her obituary reads: “George, Mrs Edward (Lottie Moreton, actress) aged 28 years, wife of Mr George, comedian, Theatre Royal, Hull.”

Her death was registered as Charlotte Drusilla George at St Saviour, Southwark, London in the June Quarter of 1873, but I would still like to know if she was buried there. (The on-line index only goes up to 1856.)

Edward John George married his second wife Emily Margaret Dinsdill at Hull in December 1874. Both “Comedians”, they were living in lodgings at Blackburn in 1881.